Former Utah Gov. Olene Walker returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday to kick off the fifth annual Housing Day on the Hill, encouraging lawmakers to support the ongoing effort to provide affordable quality housing to Utah residents.

The state Division of Housing and Community Development organized the event to illustrate the need for more funding for affordable housing. In corporation with the event, a report detailing the economic impacts of affordable housing was released to the public.

"In 2003, $200 million of additional earnings were created from affordable housing activities throughout the state," said Utah Housing Coalition chairwoman, Claudia O'Grady.

The report was initiated to estimate the economic impact generated in 2003 by affordable housing programs on Utah's employment, earnings and tax revenues.

It was found that nearly 7,300 new jobs were created as a result of affordable housing projects in the state, as well as $20.4 million in state tax revenue.

"Because of the funding we've received, not only are we able to create more jobs, but provide benefits of real affordable housing in the rural and urban areas of Utah," O'Grady said, constituting a "real physical return," to the state.

The projects aim to help thousands each year. Funding is directed to people with low-to-moderate incomes, elderly, mentally and physically disabled and victims of domestic abuse.

Patrick Conarty believes one such housing project saved his life.

"It enables me to have all the facilities right there," he said. Conarty was near homelessness when he found assistance at the Valor House, a 61-bed project offering a highly-structured environment serving homeless veterans.

"They help us learn to use our money correctly, because that is something people with mental illnesses don't do very well," he said.

Once labelled "recluse," Conarty now volunteers his time operating the clothing distribution center at the facility. He is also being trained to help other people.

"If there's a problem, I can take care of it," he said. "These people do so much good. You can't imagine what six months can do for a person."

Housing projects such as the Valor House are funded in part by the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund and local redevelopment agencies which set aside tax increment dollars for affordable housing projects.

The Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund receives about $2 million annually in state appropriations and O'Grady believes the "return on investment is impressive enough" to elicit attention from legislators.

"We hope that all legislators will read this study and understand that not only are we providing real services and real benefits to every member of their communities in soft goods . . . but we are also being fiscally responsible and providing an economical return for the state."

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com